Jack Ohly, Student ASLA, a graduate student at the University of Pennsylvania, was selected by the Landscape Architecture Foundation (LAF) as the 2012 National Olmsted Scholar and recipient of the $25,000 award. Four finalists were also announced.

Email Print

Jack Ohly, Student ASLA

Ohly will receive his master of landscape architecture and regional planning degree this month and plans to use the award to build on his previous work in agroforestry and community development in Northeastern Brazil to develop a set of regionally appropriate models for more ecologically and culturally vibrant public space. 

Also honored are National Olmsted Scholar Finalists Marin Braco, Student ASLA, State University of New York; Tina Chee, Student ASLA, University of Southern California; Tera Hatfield, Student ASLA, University of Washington; and Fadi Masoud, Harvard University, who each receive a $1,000 award.

Now in its fifth year, the Olmsted Scholars Program is the premier national award and recognition program for landscape architecture students. An independent jury of leaders in the profession selected the winner and finalists from a group of 46 University Olmsted Scholars nominated by faculty of landscape architecture programs across the United States and Canada.

Olmsted Juror and LAF Board President Cindy Sanders, FASLA, of OLIN called the pool of candidates “spectacular.” Juror Doug Reed, FASLA, of Reed Hilderbrand said that participating made him “very proud of the level to which sustainability has progressed and advanced in landscape architecture programs all over the country.” The jurors were highly impressed with the caliber and diversity of ideas explored, with student research and project themes ranging from international community development to postindustrial regeneration to city-scale landscape infrastructure systems.

The other 2012 jury members were Tom Tavella, FASLA, president-elect of ASLA and director of design, Fuss & O’Neill; Joseph Lalli, FASLA, president and CEO, EDSA; Joseph Ragsdale, ASLA, interim department head and associate professor, Cal Poly Pomona; Brad McKee, editor-in-chief, Landscape Architecture Magazine; and Kate Tooke, Associate ASLA, 2011 National Olmsted Scholar and design associate at Dodson & Flinker Associates.

The Olmsted Scholars Program is made possible with support from Founding Sponsors EDSA, HOK, Edith Harrison Henderson Fund, OLIN, and the Harriet Barnhardt Wimmer Fund/Wimmer Yamada and Caughey, as well as Annual Sponsor ASLA.

The 2012 Olmsted Scholars will be honored at LAF’s 27th Annual Benefit, Sonoran Celebration, on Friday, September 28 in Phoenix, held in conjunction with the ASLA Annual Meeting & Expo. Learn more about benefit details and registration online.

See profiles of the entire group of 2012 Olmsted Scholars.